Wednesday, 23 September 2015

Book Review & Giveaway - The Secrets We Share by Emma Hannigan

Title: The Secrets We Share

Author: Emma Hannigan

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Bookbridgr

Publisher: Headline

Publication Date: 13th August 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

Devastated after a tragedy, Nathalie Conway finds herself on a plane to Ireland. She is on her way to stay with her grandmother Clara. The grandmother up until now Nathalie had no idea existed...As Clara awaits her granddaughter's arrival, she is filled with a new sense of hope. She has spent the last twenty years praying her son Max would come back into her life. Perhaps now her son can find a way to forgive her for the past. And her granddaughter may be the thread to stitch the pieces of her beloved family back together.

The Secrets We Share had me hooked from chapter 2, I was already hooked emotionally and throughout this book there has been elements of deep emotional connection with the characters. This is also a book where there are a lot of secrets hidden within a singular family, however due to the fact that they are secrets, I am no t at liberty to divulge what they are, but would recommend diving into The Secrets We Share instead, to find them out yourself. What I am willing to say is this is a beautiful piece of women's fiction, a story spanning four generations of one family, where part of it has been splintered for 20 years. There is the story of Max who moved to Ireland 20 years ago after a falling out with his family, and is now married and has 17 year old Nathalie. Nathalie suffers a tragedy very soon into the book, and then discovers that she has a grandmother, Clara, in Ireland. She is sent to Ireland in the hope this will help her cope with the tragedy she has suffered from, and Clara is a remarkable woman, who I like instantly. Clara is delighted to have discovered the existence of her grand-daughter and is in her own way really helping Nathalie get through this tough time. And then there is the story of Clara's parents, which is written in letters which is a heart wrenching and emotionally charged. I was shocked at the content of the letters which take place, during what most would agree is worst period of time in World history. There is a lot of ground covered in this book, for all the generations, and they all have unique and different stories to be told. I was desperate to know exactly what it was that causes Max to effectively disown his family for 20 years, just why Ava, his sister was so full of rage towards him, and what the outcome of the letters were. I read The Secrets We Share in one evening, and at no point did I want to put it down. It is a powerful book, that I think I will stay with me for a while. This may have been the first Emma Hannigan book that I have read, but I know it definitely won't be the last. I am so glad to have finally read one of her books, and astounded by just how brilliant it is. Thanks so much to Frances Gough and Bookbridgr for this review copy of the book. This was my honest opinion.

Giveaway to win a paperback copy of The Secrets We Share (UK Only)

If you like the sound of this book, then this is the giveaway for you. I am giving the readers of Rachel's Random Reads a chance to win their own copy of The Secrets We Share in paperback.

Giveaway open residents of the UK only, due to postage costs (I will do more international giveaways soon), all options are voluntary, but please do what they ask, as I will be verifying the winner. Giveaway closes 23:59 29/9/2015. Winner will be announced on twitter and emailed, and they will need to reply within 7 days, or forfeit the prize, and I will re-draw for a new winner. Good luck everyone.